Panel had rejected Red Fort’s corporate upkeep

NEW DELHI: Five months before the Dalmia Bharat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ministry of culture for the upkeep of Red Fort, a similar proposal from another corporate firm was rejected.

The Parliamentary panel on transport, tourism and culture was informed that the earlier proposal in October 2017 was rejected due to “sensitivity of the monument”, a senior member of the House panel said on Tuesday.

According to the terms of the MOU signed between Dalmia Bharat and ministry of tourism, the former will spend ₹5 crore annually for five years for certain basic amenities. Opposition parties have protested against what they called as the handover of the Red Fort to private players.

The panel, led by Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’brien, had “welcomed” the scheme to rope in corporates for the upkeep of monuments, but at least two MPS said the panel was also given to understand that the ministry will first roll out a pilot project before implementing the scheme for bigger monuments.

“The issue came up during a meeting on February. Ministry officials were categorically told that all stakeholders be consulted before the scheme is rolled out across India,” a member added.

Another member said the ministry has submitted a list of 93 monuments, which have been shortlisted under the scheme but they never indicated that Red Fort will be chosen.